Youth poloists also fare well

Laguna Beach Age Group Water Polo’s girls’ 14-and-Under team won three matches last weekend, two coming at the California Cup tournament, despite the absence of three key players.

Laguna 9, Capo Valley 0

The locals kicked off weekend play Saturday with a shutout of Capo Valley.

Goals by Jessica Shusko, Kelsey Thorton and Yoshi Andersen, two of the scores coming off feeds from Hannah Lawson, allowed Laguna to take a 3-0 lead in the first quarter.

In the second quarter, Lauren Hampton scored on a lob and Thorton scored again, this time off an assist from Lida De Groote as Laguna increased its lead to 5-0 at the half. Edy Manetta had two saves — her only saves of the game — in the opening half.

The second half saw Shusko score twice more and Thorton and Anderson each scoring again.

Laguna 10, L.A. Water Polo 1

On Sunday, Laguna traveled to Harvard/Westlake High to compete in the second round of the California Cup and began the day with an easy win over L.A. Water Polo Club.

Laguna managed a 2-1 lead, thanks to goals by Melena Masson and Jessica Shusko, then blew the match open by scoring eight unanswered goals. Six of those goals were posted in the second quarter.

Masson finished with four goals, Shusko had two and Candyce Schroeder, Lydia De Groote, Kelsey Thorton and Yoshi Andersen also scoring.

Both Nicole Hoes and Bridget Alvarez contributed to the team victory with several assists and great defense. Thorton and Shusko split time in the net as Laguna was without its top two goalkeepers.

Laguna 10, Santa Barbara “B” 4

In its second match Sunday, Laguna never trailed going up 2-0 after Jessica Shusko scored on a step out shot and Yoshi Andersen on a push-in. The duo would also score later in the match.

Melena Masson and Hannah Lawson each scored twice and Bridget Alvarez and Kelsey Thorton each scored once. Thorton, Lawson, Shusko and Candyce Schroeder all played goalie.